FILMS X JENI’S: Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night is an hour-long Marvel special involving all-new characters, completely unconnected to any of the Marvel universe thus far. It requires no previous Marvel experience to comprehend.
Michael Giacchino has been my top artist for three years now, and it’s no secret that Marvel is my most nerdy obsession, so you can imagine my excitement when I learned that the composer was directing the latest Disney+ Marvel installment.
The first (and really only) bit of press I saw about this special, was a quote by Michael Giacchino, calling it the bloodiest thing that Marvel has ever made. This project was not marketed near to the extent that Marvel usually promotes their works, which honestly was kind of refreshing; it allows the quality of work to speak for itself. To cut to the chase: I really enjoyed it. It knew had a specific tone, knew what it was, and didn’t solely rely on fan service or serving as a vehicle to set up for more content down the road - two problems Marvel has frequented post-Endgame. It’s different in a way I not only respect, but enjoy.
The whole tone of the special is that of a 1960’s horror movie. It’s almost entirely in black and white (any use of color is very intentional) and has a balance of some melodramatic, campy elements juxtaposed with moments of serious purpose. It doesn’t appear that Marvel attached a lot of stakes to this as far as audience reception was concerned (based on the fact that there was practically no marketing and they let a first-timer direct), and I actually think that did this project a lot of favors. It took the pressure off of it having to live up to enormous Marvel standards and allowed it liberty to just be a good work of cinema.
In regards to Giachinno’s comment on this being the bloodiest thing that Marvel has ever made, I think that he’s probably right; however, given the fact that it’s all in black-and-white, the gore isn’t as abrasive to the viewer. Once again, it gives 1960’s gore. Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness actually could’ve taken some notes from it on the horror execution. As far as scare level, it’s not even close to a “will keep me up at night” disturbing - just more of a digestible, lovable spooky. And the ending is ties up in just a really sweet bow.
Would I watch it again? Yes. It will likely be at least an annual Halloween watch for me.
Tear level: Dry eyes
Watch when: you want a dose of Marvel or classic, nostalgic horror
Soundtrack/score: Michael Giacchino is my top artist for a reason. Hats off to him for both directing and composing this.
The Jeni’s Pairing
We’re getting a single scoop in a bowl since it’s simple like that. As far as which flavor we’re choosing, there are a few routes we could go here. First, we’re sampling Darkest Chocolate for the elements of classic horror. Then, we’ll take another sample of Cookies in Cream in homage to the black-and-white filming. Ultimately though, we’re going with Sunshine, a grey flavor with a vibrant taste that’s reminiscent of this special in the way that it’s unassuming upon first look, but it proves to have a great and enjoyable composition once delved into.
MORE ON THE FLAVORS:
Making real chocolate ice cream isn’t easy. We’re talking real chocolate ice cream crafted with top-tier Fair Trade cocoa and not a pre-fab chocolate mix. That’s why it took Jeni over five years to get our Darkest Chocolate ice cream right. It’s packed with so much real chocolate—the most possible, in fact, to still legally call it ice cream—that it is overflowing with rich, bittersweet chocolate flavor, and is dense but still creamy, like the inside of a dark chocolate truffle. This is the chocolate ice cream to ruin all other chocolate ice creams.
Cookies in Cream is our nod to the classic ice cream parlor essential—as good as you remember, but better than it ever was. Deeply chocolaty, truffle-like cookies made using Fair Trade cocoa powder. Vanilla-scented cream with almost buttery flecks of white chocolate that perfectly mimic the creamy cookie center. Best eaten under a blanket fort with a flashlight.
How do we turn gray skies into sunshine? We talk.
Sunshine ice cream is a play on the mind. Muted gray as a rain cloud, but tastes like a ray of sunshine. A geyser of sunny citrus and tropical passion fruit with a gentle current of sweet tangerine. And the texture? It’s so bouncy it practically dances.
A play on the mind to be sure. But, more than that, Sunshine is a flavor designed to raise awareness of, and spark conversations about, children’s mental health and support the work of On Our Sleeves—the movement to break stigmas around children’s mental health and provide free educational resources to families.
